???
If the HR54 and Gemini are setup as co-located the HR54 can no longer show DIRECTV channels on a TV so in that situation there should only be one TV access fee. If each is setup on 2 different TV's in a normal setup then there will be 2 TV access fees. When DIRECTV changed the TV access fee to $10 per month they also eliminated the first TV access fee being free. Existing customers are not affected by the new fees so the first one is still free and all other TV fees are still $7.00 per month.
I assume that is a setup DIRECTV has to perform? Or can a user do it in some way?
The installer said the HR54 (where the TV is located) is only a server. The gemini box is on another TV and works great. Will call customer service and see why we are getting two $10 charges for access.
OK if you have an HR54 at one TV that is working and the Gemini on another TV that is working then that is why you have two $10.00 per month TV access fees. An HR54 is a server but any receiver connected to a TV displaying DIRECTV channels including the HR54 gets charged a TV access fee.
That is correct, although the HR54 is only outputting a screen saying it's been setup as a server. Will call customer service again and try to get this clarified along w a potential refund.
The HR54 has always been a Server, it allows TV at it's location and serves other Genies.
OK that means they set it up as co-located so if you do want the HR54 to be able to watch DIRECTV content they will need to switch it to a regular setup which would require two 2 $10.00 TV access fees.
That depends on how it is setup. If it is setup as co-located, which it seems to be, it cannot show DIRECTV content via HDMI to a TV any longer. It will only show setup screens.
So, that would tell me that it was Used, as well as possibly a Business unit before hand, as, What purpuse would an everyday residential sub have for putting it in a different mode ...
I believe the co-located setup only became available after the Gemini was released mainly because it doesn't have a port to connect coax to. At least I had never heard of it before the Gemini came along. And since the HR54 (or HR44) can't show DIRECTV content after it is setup for co-location you are not supposed to be charged the tv access fee for it which is what the OP posted about as he is being charged two tv access fees but can only watch DIRECTV on one TV. Now if has 2 TV's he wants to watch DIRECTV on the setup would need to be changed back so it can also view DIRECTV content from the HR54. For that setup he would need coax at both locations along with either a DECA to make the Gemini wired or he would need a wireless video bridge for the HR54 to have the Gemini connect to it for a wireless Gemini setup.
Specifically for if someone only has one TV and they want a DVR, 4K and the ability of having streaming apps they would want a Gemini which is the only receiver capable of 4K and the use of streaming apps. But you can't use the Gemini, which is a client, without the server (HR44, HR54, or HS17). The HS17 is probably overkill for a one TV setup so I think that may be why they made it possible for the co-location setup for the HR44 and HR54. In that setup they save the HR44 or HR54 TV access fee.
I didn't realize they did that ...
Wow, they sure made it more confusing ... whats next for them to ad to the confusion ?
It means the HR54 or HR44 and the Gemini are located in the same place. COAX to the HR54. The HR54 and the Gemini are connected directly to each other via an Ethernet cable. The HR54 supplies the programming directly to the Gemini via the Ethernet cable. Only the Gemini is connected to a TV though you could also connect the HR54 to the TV but the only thing the HR54 would display are the HR54 settings. You don't really need it connected to a TV because the Gemini also has the same HR54 settings available on it. The setup has to be done by DIRECTV I believe as I tried hooking mine up myself but it didn't work so DIRECTV has to do some kind of voodoo for the setup.
Yes it can be wireless but not sure it would work in a co-location setup. You would need a DIRECTV wireless video bridge at the HR44/HR54 for the Gemini to connect to wirelessly. Or an HS17 which has the wireless video bridge built into it.
